TERRESTRIAL Biomes and aquatic boimes (by me)

Biome

a major regional complex of similar communities

• Recognized by its dominant plant type and vegetation structure

DETERMINING BIOMES

Temperature and precipitation have the greatest influence over biomes

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST

Warm climate, moderate rainfall

Dominated by broad-leafed deciduous trees

• Deciduous – trees that lose their leaves in the fall and remain dormant in the winter

Soils are fertile, but there is little
diversity in tree species

Dominated by oaks, beeches,
and maples

TEMPERATE GRASSLAND

Warm climate, low rainfall

More grasses than trees

Also known as prairie

Mostly converted to land for farming and ranching

TEMPERATE RAINFOREST

Warm climate, high rainfall

Tall trees and moist, shaded forest interior

Fertile soils that are susceptible to erosion when forests are cleared

TROPICAL RAINFOREST

Hot climate, high rainfall year round

Very diverse

Poor, acidic soils

• Most of the biome’s nutrients
  are in the plants, not the soil

SAVANNA 

(Tropical Grassland)

Hot climate, low rainfall

Precipitation arrives in the rainy seasons

Animals concentrate near water holes during the dry season

DESERT

Very sparse rain - emphasis on moisture not temperature

Not always hot  

Heat is quickly lost at night because of the low humidity and little vegetation

Animals and plants are highly adapted to the harsh climate

TUNDRA

Really this is also a type of desert.  Cold climate, very dry

Found near the poles

Vegetation is mostly lichens and scrubby

Underground soil called permafrost remains frozen all year

BOREAL FOREST (Taiga)

Cold climate, low to moderate rainfall

Evergreens dominate

Lots of bogs and lakes

Soils are nutrient poor and acidic

Long, cold winters and short,
cool summers

CHAPARRAL

Warm climate, low rainfall

Highly seasonal

• Mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers

Often called “Mediterranean”

Experience frequent fires

Dominated by shrubs

WILDFIRES…

Salinity

How much salt there is in a body of water,

Flow

Determines which plants & organisms can survive, how much O₂ can dissolve into water

Depth

Influences how much sunlight can penetrate and reach plants below the surface for photosynthesis

Temp.

Warmer water holds less dissolved O₂ so it can support fewer aq. organisms 

Littoral:

shallow water w/emergent plants

Limnetic:

• where light can reach (photosynth) No rooted plants, only phytoplankton

Profundal:

too deep for sunlight (no phots.)

Benthic:

• murky bottom where inverts (bugs) live, nutrient-rich sediments

Wetland:

area with soil submerged/saturated in water for at least part of the year, but shallow enough for emergent plants

Benefit$ of Wetland$

• Stores excess water during storms, lessening floods

• Recharges groundwater by absorbing rainfall into soil

• Roots of wetland plants filter pollutants from water draining through 

• Highly plant growth due to lots of water & nutrients (dead organic matter) in sediments

Estuaries:

⛰ Mix of fresh & salt water (species adapt to this ex: mangrove trees)

Photic zone

• area where sunlight can reach (photosynthesis)

photic zone (abyssal

• area too deep for sunlight